Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 134 /Tuesday, July 14, 1998 / Proposed Rules 37795

60 flight hours following accomplishment of

the inspection required by paragraph (a) of

this AD, replace the hose assembly with a

new hose assembly that has different data on

the identification label, in accordance with

the alert service bulletin.

(b) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, International Branch,

ANM–116.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the International Branch,

ANM–116.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to

a location where the requirements of this AD

can be accomplished.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 7,

1998.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–18646 Filed 7–13–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–144–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Saab Model

SAAB 2000 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to

certain Saab Model SAAB 2000 series

airplanes. This proposal would require

replacing the radio tuning units (RTU’s)

and associated components with new,

improved parts. This proposal is

prompted by issuance of mandatory

continuing airworthiness information by

a foreign civil airworthiness authority.

The actions specified by the proposed

AD are intended to prevent NAV/COM

radios from simultaneously changing

tuned frequencies and transponder

codes due to a black screen failure or

‘‘blanking’’ of an RTU, which could

result in loss of communications

capability and air traffic control data.

DATES: Comments must be received by

August 13, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–NM–

144–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

Saab Aircraft AB, SAAB Aircraft

Product Support, S–581.88, Link

 ̈ping,

Sweden. This information may be

examined at the FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Norman B. Martenson, Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2110;

fax (425) 227–1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications shall

identify the Rules Docket number and

be submitted in triplicate to the address

specified above. All communications

received on or before the closing date

for comments, specified above, will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report

summarizing each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 97–NM–144–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

ANM–114, Attention: Rules Docket No.

97–NM–144–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

The Luftfartsverket (LFV), which is

the airworthiness authority for Sweden,

notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on certain Saab

Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes. The

LFV advises that, in the event of a

‘‘blanking’’ (black screen) failure of a

single radio tuning unit (RTU), the

NAV/COM radios may change tuned

radio frequencies and transponder

codes. Such frequency and transponder

code changes may occur on both left

and right NAV/COM radios

simultaneously. This condition, if not

corrected, could result in loss of

communications capability and air

traffic control data.

The manufacturer of the RTU’s

reported that this ‘‘blanking’’ failure of

an RTU is a design problem that was

discovered during an investigation of a

service difficulty on another airplane

model. The RTU’s installed on certain

Saab Model SAAB 2000 series airplanes

are the same type as those on the other

airplane model. Therefore, Saab Model

SAAB 2000 series airplanes may be

subject to the same unsafe condition.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

The manufacturer has issued Saab

Service Bulletin 2000–23–017, dated

March 10, 1997, which describes

procedures for replacing existing RTU’s

and associated components with new,

improved parts. The improved RTU’s

are not susceptible to frequency or

transponder code changes due to a

‘‘blanking’’ failure. Accomplishment of

the actions specified in the service

bulletin is intended to adequately

address the identified unsafe condition.

The LFV classified this service bulletin

as mandatory and issued Swedish

airworthiness directive SAD 1–109,

dated March 12, 1997, in order to assure

the continued airworthiness of these

airplanes in Sweden.

FAA’s Conclusions

This airplane model is manufactured

in Sweden and is type certificated for

operation in the United States under the

provisions of Section 21.29 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.29) and the applicable bilateral

airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to

this bilateral airworthiness agreement,

the LFV has kept the FAA informed of
37796 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 134 /Tuesday, July 14, 1998 / Proposed Rules

the situation described above. The FAA

has examined the findings of the LFV,

reviewed all available information, and

determined that AD action is necessary

for products of this type design that are

certificated for operation in the United

States.

Explanation of Requirements of

Proposed Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other airplanes of the same

type design registered in the United

States, the proposed AD would require

accomplishment of actions specified in

the service bulletin described

previously.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 3 airplanes of

U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, and that it would take

approximately 2 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the proposed

replacement, at an average labor rate of

$60 per work hour. Required parts

would be provided by the manufacturer

of the RTU at no cost to operators. Based

on these figures, the cost impact of the

replacement proposed by this AD on

U.S. operators is estimated to be $360,

or $120 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the proposed requirements of this AD

action, and that no operator would

accomplish those actions in the future if

this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

would not have substantial direct effects

on the States, on the relationship

between the national government and

the States, or on the distribution of

power and responsibilities among the

various levels of government. Therefore,

in accordance with Executive Order

12612, it is determined that this

proposal would not have sufficient

federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this proposed regulation (1)

is not a ‘significant regulatory action’

under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not

a ‘significant rule’ under the DOT

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44

FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if

promulgated, will not have a significant

economic impact, positive or negative,

on a substantial number of small entities

under the criteria of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action is contained in the Rules Docket.

A copy of it may be obtained by

contacting the Rules Docket at the

location provided under the caption

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend part

39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations

(14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS

DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

Saab Aircraft AB: Docket 97–NM–144–AD.

Applicability: Model SAAB 2000 series

airplanes, as listed in Saab Service Bulletin

2000–23–017, dated March 10, 1997;

certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

modified, altered, or repaired in the area

subject to the requirements of this AD. For

airplanes that have been modified, altered, or

repaired so that the performance of the

requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (b) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent NAV/COM radios from

simultaneously changing tuned frequencies

and transponder codes due to a black screen

failure or ‘‘blanking’’ of a radio tuning unit

(RTU), which could result in loss of

communications capability and air traffic

control data, accomplish the following:

(a) Within 1 year after the effective date of

this AD, replace the existing RTU’s and

associated components with new, improved

parts, in accordance with Saab Service

Bulletin 2000–23–017, dated March 10, 1997.

(b) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators

shall submit their request through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, International Branch,

ANM–116.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the International Branch,

ANM–116.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to

a location where the requirements of this AD

can be accomplished.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in Swedish airworthiness directive SAD 1–

109, dated March 12, 1997.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 7,

1998.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–18645 Filed 7–13–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Parts 72 and 75

Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure of

Underground Coal Miners

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health

Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Proposed rule; Notice of

preliminary determination of no

significant environmental impact;

request for comments.

SUMMARY: This document announces the

preliminary determination by the Mine

Safety and Health Administration

(MSHA) that the proposed rule

establishing new health standards for

underground coal mines that use diesel

powered engines will have no

significant environmental impact.

MSHA is soliciting comments on its

preliminary determination.

DATES: Submit written comments on or

before August 10, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be

transmitted by electronic mail, fax or

mail. Comments by electronic mail must

be clearly identified as such and sent to

this e-mail address:

comments@msha.gov. Comments by fax

must be clearly identified as such and

sent to: Mine Safety and Health

Administration, Office of Standards,

Regulations and Variances, 703–235–

5551. Send mail comments to: Mine

Safety and Health Administration,

Office of Standards, Regulations and

Variances, Room 631, 4015 Wilson

Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203–

1984. Interested persons are encouraged

to supplement written comments with

computer files or disks; please contact